Curtain stretcher



July 18, 1933. R- N ASKA 1,918,888

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed July l5, 1932 2 SheetS-Sheet l o o o N lo@ o d5):- if i I: 00009 aoco 0000 July 18, 1933. R N. ASKA 1,918,888

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed July 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor By @am H015@ Patented `uly 18, 1933 PATENT GFFECE ROBERT N. ASKA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CURTAIN STRET CHER Application filed .-uly 13, 1932. Serial N'o. 622,299.

This invention relates to an improved curtain' stretcher wherein the principal novelty i'spredicated upon the specicconstruction and assembly of parts constituting the fram structure5 said structure being of a foldable type'whereby to permit the entire frame to be collapsed into a comparatively small and compact and convenient size for eicient transporta-tionand storage purposes.

Otherwise stated', I have evolved and produced' a simple and economical' foldable frame structure andk carefully selected and mechanically co-ordin-ated` appurtenances successfully co-related to provide a self-shaping adjustable frame Whose parts are properly susta/ined inappropriate angular relationship whether fol-ded or extended.

I am aWa're ofthe fact that itis not broadly nevvl in thisr'particular line of Aendeavor to 23* provide a collapsible or foldable'frame structure Whose longitudinal and transverse dimensions arcvcapablie of adjustment. As a matter of fact, 'a curtain structure of the aforesaid general' type is admittedly old. u 'llherefore5V the principal novelty is predi- Cated uponthe specific formation of the frame bars or rai-ls and the particular members: and elements usedf in pivotallyV and adjustably connecting said bars together.

The explicit features just alluded to will become more readily apparent from the follovving description and the accompanying pirctoria'lllfy illustrative drawings.

1 'Inf` the Vaccompany-'ing ldrawings in which lie'enuinerais are employed to designate like pants' throughout the same:

- Figure' l is a top plan viewlof ai curtainv stretcher constructed inl accordance With the principles of this invention showing the 45' frameopened' up. for use.

Figure 2 is av top plan View showing the frame collapsed or folded.

Figure: 3 is an edge elevational view of the left hand endand central portion of the 43 structure seen'in'Figure L Figurei is a detail section taken approximately on the plane of the line 4 4 of Figure 1. v Y

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the 5f?- structxiieiseen in Figure 4.

Referringnow to the illustrative drawin fs by distinguishing reference characters it Wi l be observed that the numeral 6 designates the centrally disposed transversely extending oar which for sake ofdiferenti'ation, is referred to as the foundation bar.

This is forlned with a centrally disposed iongitudinal slot 7 of the extent represented in `Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, the upper longitudinal rail 8 is made up of a pair of companion bars 9 and 10 having longitudinal slots 1i and 12 respectively. rhe inner adjacent ends of these bars are pivotally joined to a siiding clamp 13 of the type detailed in Figures 4 and 5. y

he lower section of the clamp is fornlcd with a. saddle 14 which fits'snugly around and is slid-ably longitudinally along the bar G. The upper section 1 5 is attached'tothe saddle through the medium of a bolt 16! carrying a Wing .nut 16a. The bolt 16' passes through the slot 7 in the bar 6. The section 1'5 is interposed between the foundation bar 6 and the inner adjacent ends of the top rail hars and 1G. These inner ends are oined togcthe tin-ough the medium ofva connecting link by pivot and connecting bolts 17a which exi tend through the ends of the link, through the ends of the 9" and' 10 and through the corresponding ends ofthe clamp sections 15 and i4; respectively. This provides the req-- uisite sliding and pivotal connection between the bars 6, 9 and 10i The lower longitudinal rail in Figure 1 is distinguished by thenuineral 18 and is made up of a pair of simil-ar bars 19 and 2() formed with central longitudinal slots 21 and The inner ends of these bars 19 and'Q@ also ove'ryI the adjacent endv portion of 'the foun- (lation or masterb'ar 6 where they are joined tegetherby' a connecting stra-p 23 whose end portions are fa'sten'ed'lbvv pivot bolts' 9A to the corresponding end portion` ofthe underlying connectingfstrap 25. The central portion of the strap 25is ol'set to fit around' the end por-V '2 tion' of the bar G as seen in Figurer? and is per-- manen-tly. bolted tosaid bar as indicated at 2G.

it Will be noted; that the inner longitudinal edge ofthe connecting strapf25 is provided with v;upstanding stop flanges 27 asf seen in Figure 1 n'fliich serve as abutments to maintain the two bars 19 and 20 in perfect alinement when the frame is expanded for use.

The transverse end bars of the frame are 5 denoted by the numerals 28 and have suitable slots 29. The end portions thereof are joined to the slotted bars 9, 10, 19 and 2O through the medium ofrconnecting bolts 3() having thumb nuts 31.

With this arrangement it is evident that the inner ends of the bars 19and 20 are fixedly pivoted to one end of the n aster bar G while the corresponding ends of the bars 9 and 10 are slidably connected to said bar 6 throu h the medium of the sliding clamp 13. Thus, g/ adjusting the respective barsto the position seen. in Figure 1the complete frame may beA set up for curtain stretching use. ''Vhen the trame is not in ,use the thumb nuts 31 are simply loosened andithe parts folded to the collapsed state seen in Figure 2. i

In this positionthe sliding clamp 13 is slid from the upper end of the master bar 6 to the lower endthereof into abutting relation with the stop flanges 27. In this position the bars 9 and 10 are alongside of and slightly overlapped in relation to the bars 6 and automatically brings the barsv 19 and 20 up alongside of the bars and 10 to reside in a plane substantially even with the latter two bars.

The end bars 2S underlyY the bars 9, and l0, 19 and 2O in a somewhat diagonal position as represented in dotted lines in Figure 9.. Thus the structure is self-sh aping in both collapsed and expanded position, and in either position thebarsgare' properly sustained in appropriate angular relationship. When in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the end bars are adjustable toward andv from each other to regulate the longitudinal and transverse dimension for effective curtain stretching opera-tion. y

lt is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding' of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming withi-n the field of invention claim may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A curtain stretching device comprising a central bar having a longitudinally extend# pair of bars, bolts passing through the end portionswof the last-mentioned link, through the inner end portions of the pair of bars, and through the two links of the clamp for pivotally connecting the pair of bars to the clamp, a second pair of slotted bars, upper and lower links receiving the inner ends of the last-mentioned pair of bars between them, bolts pivoted to the said last-mentioned bars and said last-mentioned links, the lower link of said last-mentioned pair of links having a channel therein for receiving a part of the firstmentioned bar, a bolt for fastening said last-mentioned bar to said channel portion of the link, said second pair of bars having longitudinally extending slots therein, a pair of longitudinally slotted end bars and bolts for connecting the end bars to the outer ends of the two pairs of slotted bars, one setof bolts passing through the slots of the second pair of bars and the other set passing through the slots of the firstpairof slotted bars and through the slots in the end bars.

2. A curtain stretching device comprising a central bar having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a clamp embracing said bar and composed of an upper link and a lower link, said lower link having a channel therein through which the bar passes, a bolt passing through the two links and through the slot in the bar for fastening theclamp in adjusted positions on the bar, a. pairof longitudinally slotted bars having their inner ends resting on the upper link of theclamp, 'athird link overlapping said inner ends Iof the pair of bars, bolts passing through the end portions of the last-mentioned link, through the inner end portions of the pair of bars, and through the two links of the clamp for pivotally connecting the pair of bars tothe cla-mp, a second' pair of slotted bars, upper and lower links receiving the' inner ends of the last-mentioned' pair of bars between them, bolts pivoted to the saidl last-mentioned bars and said last-mentioned links, :the lower link of said last-mentioned pair of links having a channel therein for receiving `a part of the first-mentioned bar, a bolt for fastening said last-mentioned bar to said channel portion of the' link. said second pair of bars having longitudinally extending` slots therein, a pair of longitudinally slotted end bars and bolts for connecting the end bars to the outer ends of vthe two' pairs of slotted bars, one setfof bol-ts passing through the slots ofthe second pair of bars and the other set passing through the slots of the first pair` offslottedsbarsA and through the slots in the end bars,- the lower and channel link of the second pair of links having upstanding flanges on its inner edge for engaging end portions of the second pair of bars for limiting outward swinging movement of said second pair of bars.

Bonn-Rr N. Asma 

